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Manx Shearwater

Discussion

11 replies
Posted by Oscar Dewhurst on July 6, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Manx Shearwater
Thanks for the comments on my last image.

I'm currently on Skomer, and when I was walking back to the farmhouse this morning I saw this Manx Shearwater sitting on a wall. As it was out in broad daylight, I was wondering if it wasn't too well?

Techs:
Nikon D300s
Nikon 200-400mm f4 VR
Handheld
F5.6
1/800s
ISO 640

Thanks for looking

Oscar :wavey:
Posted by John Robinson on July 6, 2012 at 1:11 PM
Hi Oscar. I spent a week on there and never saw one in daylight .
It doesn't look too happy. Amazing birds when they come in at night -hit the ground at 60 mph and go over and over. Great memories,
Interesting shot though.
Cheers
JR
Posted by Neil Burton on July 6, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Interesting, and you got a shot of it! Very nice indeed. Youngster?
Posted by David Sewell on July 6, 2012 at 2:43 PM
First time I can remember seeing one on here, so well done on that. Is that brown belly normal? I am wondering if it has some oil on it.

David
Posted by Paul Whippey on July 6, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Well done Oscar, must be a first for NPN. :toast: :toast: :toast:

I agree with David though. It does look like the bird has been contaminated with oil. Probably unrelated, but there was a leak recently in Milford Haven: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-18633380
Posted by keith mitchell on July 6, 2012 at 4:21 PM
HI Oscar.Does not look very happy looks a bit like oil on its breast.its a real shame.

Keith.
Posted by Neil Burton on July 7, 2012 at 3:55 AM
Yes, looks like oil. My juvenile idea was far from the mark. Damn this parasitic species of ours.
Posted by Phil Ellard on July 7, 2012 at 5:32 PM
nice shot, but i suspect all is not well as it is out in the day light.I hope you are enjoying skomer, spent to amazing days there
last year and will hopefully return next year :toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Graham Goddard on July 8, 2012 at 5:04 AM
I keep coming back to this one Oscar as I can't decide if it's oil or mud from the burrow. I've a few images of Puffins with very similar staining to the feathers on the breast, and that was definately not oil. Fingers crossed eh..... :toast:
Posted by Oscar Dewhurst on July 8, 2012 at 6:03 AM
Thanks for the comments. I don't think it's oil as it isn't anywhere else on the body, and I haven't heard of any others affected by oil recently. The warden said that occasionally you get them appearing in daylight, and my first thought was that it was mud on its breast.

Oscar :wavey:
Posted by Nick Mckeown on July 9, 2012 at 9:00 AM
First class image Oscar and I think it is mud on its chest from its burrow. Very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time.

Nick. :toast: :toast: :toast: :smile: :wavey:
Posted by Ian Hay on July 17, 2012 at 9:01 AM
Wow a not to be repeated image of a classic brittish bird

Hope it gets well soon

Ian